Monday, 4 June 2018

Gregg Allman - Southern Blood (2017)

Released September 2017

Recorded in Muscle Shoals, Alabama

This is a very sad album because, as many know, Gregg Allman passed away not long after its recording. That event means that whole album is tinged with sadness and emotion.Viewed on purely musical terms, it is not an album of all blues rock attack. Not in the slightest. It is often laid-back, melodious, gentle and subtle. Saxophone is used quite a lot, and various guitars, including pedal steel, horns and female backing vocals. It is a very tuneful and uplifting album."My Only True Friend" sets the tone for the album, with its impressive guitar and saxophone. "Once IWas" is beautiful. A lovely ballad with a nice saxophone solo. Gregg's cover of Bob Dylan's "Going, Going, Gone" (from "Planet Waves") is heartbreaking, lyrically. Lovely horns and pedal steel guitar and a great guitar solo at the end. Quality stuff."Black Muddy River" is slow, sad and valedictory. A country blues anthem again with impressive solo guitar. "I Love The Life I Live" is the album's first real slow burning blues but with saxophone to the fore again. "Willin'" keeps the blues fire burning and then we get the marvellous, mysterious "Blind Bats And Swamp Rats" - an atmospheric New Orleans blues with references to the "Big Easy" and cajun culture. Yet again, some outstanding guitar work. "Out Of Left Field" is another heartbreaking, sad slow blues ballad and "Love Like Kerosone" gets the spirits up again with a rocking blues."Song For Adam" is a duet with old mate Jackson Browne (originally from Browne's debut album, "Saturate Before Using") and is just lovely, but, obviously, terribly touching at the same time. Impossible to listen to this album and not be moved if you know the story behind it. Trying, with great difficulty, to assess it dispassionately, it is a very impressive album, for many reasons.B-

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About Me

I was born in the late 1950s, into the rock n roll years. My musical taste covers largely the late 50s to the 90s, although there are favourite artists of mine who are still releasing material now, that I still like, of course. My tastes include Rock, Soul, Reggae, Northern Soul, Motown, Blues, Jazz, Folk, Country, Funk, Disco, Glam, World Music, New Wave, Punk, Two Tone.
The opinions I express in these reviews are just that, opinions, nothing more, nothing less. If I don't like as album as much as you do, don't hold it against me! Music is all about opinions. I am not writing these reviews to provide information as to who played what, who produced the album, what barcode it has etc. There are many books and bloggers that do that. I am just wishing to express how much I like the albums in question. Sometimes I listen to a song and I just want to write down what I feel about it. Just a personal indulgence.
Please feel free to leave comments on the reviews, even if you politely disagree!
After spending most of my life in the South of England, attending hundreds of gigs, particularly in the punk era, I now live a quiet life in the Scottish Borders.